Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-13
THE LAST MAN.

ceased on that part of the Federal line al
Chickamauga which was held by the
troops under Thomas, on the second day
Between the left of these forces and that
remainder of the army which had not left
the field lay "a long stretch Of forest effec-
tuaily cutting off the view between the
two points. Just at dusk there was borne
across this forest sound of rapid mus
kerry. but this was soon over. and then
followed prolonged cheering. Ii was clear
to those with Thomas that the cheers
came from COnfedcrates. and signified a
capture Of more or less Importance. The
incident served, i'll connection with what
followed, To cast a deeper gloom over the
exhausted soldiers,
That which followed was an order to
withdraw from the field in retreat to
Chattanooga The left of Thomas line
rested upon a ridge. the end of which
was covered with standing corn. At the
foot of the ridge, 10 the left, was fence,
and beyond this the forest already mem
toned. A line oil Federal skrmishers
was posted along the fence, and the orders
were for this line 10 remain until the
troops were well off the ridge in their re-
treat and Ihen TO quietly withdraw and
make the best Of their way to rejoin the
column. The skirmish line was composed
of a single regiment, and a captain was in
command, all the field officers having
fallen in the two days fighting. The cap
| tain. a straight and soldierly fellow, with
bright brown hair and beard closely cut,
| was waiting with what patience he could
! command until his time came TO retreat.
| Ii was an uncertain service at best this
| staying behind in skirmish line while the
army marched away. So thought the
captain. evidently, rs he moved uneasily
few PAGES back and forth behind his
men. There was something else to trouble
him; he WINGED whenever he put his left
foot Ia the ground.
| The captain had been waiting nearly
half au hour when there came an ominous
sound from the forest in front. 1t was
too dark to see, but there could be no mis-
taking that sound Ii was the tramp Of
men coming cautiously on, as q force
would do in the dark, expecting to meet
an enemy at every step. The captain
| thought it Yet too early to retire, and so
there was nothing for ii but to await the
oncoming force and trust to fortune. On
il came, and presently the dusky forms of
a line of skirmishers We're seen scarcely
thirty PAGES in front Of the Federal line
| At the same instant the captains men,
standing silently in their places, were dis
| covered by the others Neither knew
certainly 10 which army the other he
| longed The line which came from the
wood halted without command, hesitating
| Then AN officer stepped forward and de
/ ,nanded:
What troops are those'"
| Not at loss for a moment, the Federal
| captain responded:
''All right We're going up the hill
Be ready 10 support us. Now, then, men
| quietly! 9ass the word alongr'
Whatever the doubts Of the other, the
captain was sure that the force confront
| ing him was Confederate He WAS at
last relieved Of uncertainty-he must
move now. His men understood; the
| command went from man to man in low
tones, and the whole line Of skirmishers
guietly Inrned and marched up through
the corn 10 The top Of the ridge. As they
came to the open ground at the summit
all was still about and in front Of them
Their comrades were out of hearing in
their Retreat. The captain mounted his
horse-which an orderly had been holding
while the captain was on foot with his
skirmishcrs-and put his little regiment
in motion to follow the army. He him
self remained until the last Of his men
had filed by, aud then followed. As he
did this, he turned his face as if for last
look at the bloody field. There was moth
ing there now but darkness and silence.
Perfect silence, it seemed, thinking Of
what had been there less than two hours
before. Ii was perfect silence save that
2OO yards down the ridge to the front
where the enemy's dead and wounded lay
thickest, a sharp cry came up out of the
night now and then, a. the hospital corps
lifted sufferer too roughly or turned
some poor fellow over upon q mangled
limb. Save, also, that rustling noise in
the corn through which he had Just come
told the captain that the enemy's skir-
mishers left at the fence below were
already moving on his track.
The last man AT Chickamaugar' NUT
tsred the captain as he rode on after his
regiment.
They passed briskly down the rearward
slope into the deeper shadow Of the valley,
and presently turning their heads to look
behind, saw family outlined against the
sky the figure of the southern skirmishers
as one after another they emerged from
the corn and stood upon the crest
The last of Chickamsuga! All, mol
Not the last; for as the little rear guard
rpachal fha lovyar 1ronpd fhay ,.,v,> ,ro,,
their wounded cororsdaS ,vho 80, hasI, LII
bnrt IN on on to the rear h.d 20, III
untold AGONY dragga5 ,hs,ns.,vss haot-
from the fire swent Ground in fron, 81
20 90. martial SbsI,.r AIo,r- ~ ,.s
these rretcbad snf,e-srs iev tht.tI,.
Here one with an srr, h.If ,o-,' 90. ,,,a..
a foot dangling; here poor fellow shot |
through the body, his death q question |
not of hours, but of minutes: and 40 ON.
in sickening continuance. And all want |
ing water! There had been none all day |
and the retreating soldiers were marching
with lips and tongues blackened ard |
swollen and cracked with thirst. until |
many could utter no articulste sound
Bows, YOU won't 90 and leaya us |
here,''
For Gods sake, water! waterr'
'Boys, are YOU on the retreat and 1
leaving us behind,',
'You ought to hold the ground. bovs.
till they took care of us!'
''Waterl water, Don't let us die herep,
Pitiful pitiful appealsl And all in
vain. Not a canteen of water in the